The Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey

11/27/2025

❤️🙏

11/27/2025

Before moving forward with epilepsy surgery, these are the most important questions to ask your doctor.
Bring this list to your surgical evaluation so you feel informed, confident, and empowered every step of the way.
✔️ Print it.
✔️ Highlight your concerns.
✔️ Ask openly — you deserve clear answers.

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🧠 Questions to Ask Before Epilepsy Surgery

◻️ When is epilepsy surgery considered an option?
◻️ What makes someone a candidate for epilepsy surgery?
◻️ What tests do I need before surgery?
◻️ What types of epilepsy surgery are there?
◻️ Which surgery is right for me or my child?
◻️ What are the chances of becoming seizure-free?
◻️ What are the risks or complications of epilepsy surgery?
◻️ Will surgery affect my memory, speech, or personality?
◻️ How long will I be in the hospital?
◻️ What is recovery like after epilepsy surgery?
◻️ How soon can I go back to work, school, or normal activities?
◻️ Will I need to keep taking seizure medications after surgery?
◻️ How long does it take to know if the surgery worked?
◻️ What is the long-term success rate?
◻️ What is the difference between resective surgery, laser ablation, RNS, VNS, DBS, and SEEG?
◻️ How do I choose the right surgeon or epilepsy center?
◻️ How many epilepsy surgeries has this surgeon performed?
◻️ Will surgery improve my quality of life?
◻️ Will surgery help me drive again or be more independent?
◻️ What are the emotional or psychological effects after surgery?
◻️ Do I need rehabilitation or therapy afterward?
◻️ What are the risks if I don’t have surgery?
◻️ What happens if surgery doesn’t work?
◻️ What alternative treatments exist if I’m not a surgical candidate?
◻️ How much does epilepsy surgery cost?
◻️ Will insurance cover my evaluation and surgery?
◻️ What should I expect during the pre-surgical hospital stay?
◻️ Who will be on my care team?
◻️ What support is available for families and caregivers?

11/26/2025

Operating in Ukraine on a young lady with mesial temporal lesion and drug resistant epilepsy.   Great to be with our surgical colleagues in Lviv! 💜

10/30/2025

Surgical view of callosotomy surgery.   You can clearly see the v-shaped leaflets of the septum pellucidum ensuring that the extent of the callosum has been sectioned.  Beautiful surgery and often has powerful impact for our patients.  

10/25/2025

10/23/2025

Many people believe that SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) only happens after “big” or generalized seizures — but that’s not always true.

While most SUDEP cases are linked to generalized tonic-clonic seizures, it can also occur in people who have less frequent or nighttime seizures. That’s why ongoing monitoring and seizure control matter for every patient.

💜 Awareness helps save lives.

10/13/2025

What research is being done on SUDEP?

Around the world, scientists and clinicians are working to better understand why SUDEP happens — and how to prevent it.

Current research focuses on several key areas, including:
🔹 Brain and heart connection: studying how irregular heart rhythms or breathing patterns may contribute to SUDEP.
🔹 Seizure detection and monitoring: developing wearable and implantable devices that can alert caregivers or automatically respond to seizure activity.
🔹 Genetics and biomarkers: identifying inherited or biological factors that may increase risk.
🔹 Sleep and nighttime monitoring: exploring why many SUDEP cases occur during sleep and how technology can help detect danger early.

Each study brings us closer to understanding and preventing SUDEP — and to the ultimate goal shared by the American Epilepsy Society and our team: Aim for Zero. 💜

10/10/2025

How can you reduce the risk of SUDEP?

While SUDEP is rare, there are steps you and your care team can take to help lower the risk. The most important goal is consistent seizure control — especially preventing generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Ways to help reduce risk include:
• Taking seizure medications as prescribed
• Getting enough sleep and managing stress
• Avoiding missed doses or sudden medication changes
• Treating sleep apnea or other sleep-related issues
• Using nighttime monitoring devices when appropriate
• Regularly checking in with your neurologist or epilepsy specialist

Awareness and consistency make a difference. Talk to your care team about your individual risk and ways to stay as safe and seizure-free as possible. 💜

10/10/2025

✨ In this part of our surgical consultation series, our patient Ahlim Byun talks about one of the most common questions patients have before surgery — “Will my head be shaved?”

It’s a concern we hear often, and an understandable one. Many epilepsy surgeries today are done using minimally invasive approaches, and in most cases, the entire head does not need to be shaved.

At the Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey, we use hair-sparing techniques whenever possible and understand how sensitive this topic can be. Our goal is always to make patients feel comfortable, confident, and cared for — in every detail.

In Ahlim’s case, Dr. Tomycz did not need to shave her head, which helped ease her anxiety and build trust before surgery.

Ahlim shares her experience and what she learned through her consultation — that this process is about clarity, comfort, and understanding every detail before making a decision. 💜

10/09/2025

The American Epilepsy Society’s motto, “Aim for Zero,” represents a simple but powerful goal — zero seizures, zero SUDEP.

It’s a reminder that every seizure matters. By aiming for complete seizure control, we not only improve quality of life but also help reduce the risks associated with epilepsy, including SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

Reaching “zero” doesn’t happen overnight, and it looks different for every patient. It means working closely with your neurologist, exploring treatment options — from medications to neurostimulation and surgery — and staying consistent with care.

At the Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey, we share this goal. Together with our patients and families, we continue striving for safer, healthier, seizure-free lives. 💜

10/09/2025

Dr. Luke Tomycz on SUDEP: AIM for Zero

While SUDEP is rare, it’s one of the most serious risks associated with epilepsy. By talking about it openly, we can help families understand what it is, who may be at risk, and what steps can be taken to reduce that risk.

Awareness is not about fear — it’s about empowerment. Knowing the facts helps patients and families work together with their care teams to improve safety, manage seizures, and take proactive steps toward seizure control and prevention.

As the American Epilepsy Society reminds us, the goal is simple — Aim for Zero: zero seizures, zero SUDEP. Every conversation, every shared piece of knowledge brings us closer to that goal. 💜

This video is part of our ongoing series for SUDEP Awareness Month, as we continue to shed light on the topics that matter most to our patients and their loved ones.